Pope voices 'affection' for Americans as he meets Blinken

Pope Francis has met privately with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and expressed his “affection” and “attention” to the U.S. people

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis on Monday voiced affection for the American people as he met at length with the U.S. secretary of state, the Vatican said, without indicating whether the two discussed the sharp divide among U.S. bishops over giving Communion to politicians supporting abortion rights like President Joe Biden. The pontiff accorded Secretary of State Antony Blinken a substantial chunk of time, especially in view of a government official who isn't a national leader. The audience in the Apostolic Palace “played out in a cordial atmosphere,” a Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said. “It lasted about 40 minutes, and it was for the pope, the occasion to recall his 2015 visit and to express his affection and his attention to the people of the United States of America.” Bruni was referring to the pontiff's U.S. pilgrimage, which included a meeting at the White House with then-President Barack Obama. Since then U.S. church hierarchy has been increasingly more polarized about U.S. politics and politicians.